Depression, stress about relationships are major reasons why people text for help

The nonprofit Crisis Text Line, which provides crisis counseling via text, is out with a report that found that since the service’s launch in 2013, depression is the top issue that people reach out for help with. Here’s more: 

• Overall trends: Crisis Text Line counselors have sent more than 129 million texts to users since the nonprofit’s inception. Depression is the top issue, making up 40% of messages sent to the text line, while a third of texts had to do with people’s anxiety. 
• State-level trends: California, Texas, and New York had the most number of users reaching out to Crisis Text Line, with more than 100,000 people in each state. 
• Demographics: Some 36% of those who used the service were aged 14-17, followed by those 18-24. Nearly 80% of those who reached out identified as genderqueer, while men outnumbered women by nearly 6 to 1.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (Español: 1-888-628-9454; deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.